Chasing the Magic

By Yasmyn Sumiyoshi

Folks aren’t kidding when they talk about the hustle and bustle of New York City. I moved here five years ago to pursue my dream of becoming a performer and living the “artist lifestyle.” I am a multi-hyphenate artist: dancer, singer, actor, and writer, and I am always open to adding more labels if I have time to hyperfixate on a new artistic pursuit. The bohemian lifestyle of gig work, multiple part-time jobs, and work that doesn’t pay is often referred to as “starving artist.” I live and survive in New York City. And like many others in this city, I answered the call to become an artist.

I’m not claiming to be the busiest person in New York City, nor would I say that the everyday things I do have some special seal of importance. My daily activities of attending dance classes, working front desk jobs, auditioning, and checking my email do not drastically alter the world. That being said, I do think there’s a part of every New Yorker that believes they live the busiest life. I guess there’s just something in the water here.

On any given morning, you may come across the performers of New York City darting around 8th Avenue on their way to auditions. Auditioning is like a job interview. However, instead of answering questions about who you are and why you want to work for said employer, you are squished into a room with 40 others to learn a dance that you then perform for the casting director. It should be an opening-night-ready performance—even though you learned the dance fifteen minutes ago. Once that audition is done, you move onto the next one! You leave your heart on the dance floor, then promptly release all your feelings about the potential job. It is said that there are one hundred no’s to every yes. We’re all working hard and struggling to find that yes.

But why do we choose to partake in all this rushing around? Why are we sacrificing things like peace and rest and, occasionally, sanity? In a world where so many aspects of art have become commercial and capitalistic, and rejection is around every corner, why are we drawn to pursuing a career in the arts? It begs the question: what is it all for?

I grew up admiring the glamour of all things Broadway. I graduated college and moved to New York City, the center of the theatre world, with a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) and big dreams. But what often goes unseen is all the hard work behind the sparkly costumes, fake eyelashes, and bright stage lights.

There is blood, sweat, and tears carved into the wooden floors of the rehearsal studios.

There is culture.

There are dreams.

There is drama and trauma.

There is legacy sealed in the floors.

There is an energy that can only be felt once you enter the trance state of performance.

You’re no longer on 8th Avenue; you’re in your own world. Those who have come before you and blazed a trail now exist within you. And, when your feet return to 8th Avenue, you become aware that you just felt magic.

This is what it’s all for. To feel the magic. Who knows if you’ll be cast in a show. Who knows for how long. Who knows for what pay. But how can you put a price on magic?

Unfortunately, this magic is easily forgotten. It begins to fade when validation and praise become the only goals. It is no longer something that you are sharing with someone, but a product to be judged. This mindset kills the magic. The daily grind of attending three auditions before heading to work. Waking up before the sun rises to stand in a line for hours. Feeling like you are just a number. Comparing yourself and the things you’ve done to those of the strangers around you. These are the times when you start to lose the magic.

What is it all for? I believe that as an artist, it is important to ponder this question often. This question can lead to a refocusing of the artistic lens which is often covered in New York City sludge.

I’ve come to enjoy the thrill of rushing around the city from one activity to another because I want to soak up every ounce of what the city is offering. The beauty of New York City is not in its surroundings, but rather the art being created within the city. Every day, someone is sharing new music, presenting a new art installation, or screening a new documentary. There is never enough time in the day to catch it all. But, when you experience art that speaks to you, you’ve found the magic. I believe these instances are fate.

The ability to find art and artists on every corner is what makes New York City special because, alongside the art, is the artist community. I believe in the importance of collaboration, shared experiences, supporting each other’s work, and being moved by a piece of art. My best days are those spent creating and taking in as much art as possible regardless of its medium, type, or facet. I strive to take in everything as humanly possible.

So, I ponder again, what is it all for? The answer exists in the way music and movement cuts straight to our hearts and influence our emotions. The art we create has the power to change lives, change minds, and change the world. And in today’s world, art will save us. We must, as a society, lean into it and lean on each other, and chase the magic that is within us all.

Yasmyn Sumiyoshi is a multi-hyphenate artist from San Antonio, Texas. She is a dancer, singer, actor, choreographer, writer currently residing in NYC. Yasmyn recently made her choreography debut in the Inaugural Dancers Who Choreograph Showcase. She also presented her choreography in The Choreographer’s Collective Showcase last year, and will be presenting a piece in the Inaugural Black Box Movers Showcase this spring. As a performer, some of Yasmyn’s credits include Frozen, Mamma Mia, The Little Mermaid, South Pacific, The Secret of My Success (Ensemble), A Chorus Line, Rent, Mary Poppins (Swing) all at Theatre Under the Stars, and The Prom at the ZACH Theatre. Additionally, Yasmyn performed in LEGACY: A Night with Maria Friedman at Broadway’s Hudson Theatre, and I Put A Spell On You LIVE at Webster Hall. She can also be seen on Disney+ in Encore! (Godspell Episode). Yasmyn attended Sam Houston State University for her BFA in Musical Theatre with an emphasis in Dance. While she is somewhat new to the writing world, you can read more of Yasmyn’s work on Substack. @yasmynwhodances